Leading The Good Life
16Feb/1126

Wedding Wednesday

Hello! I've got a special treat for you today...wedding talk! (Wait, do you like wedding talk??)

It would be an understatement to say that Katie and I have not been very proactive with planning our wedding. In fact, we have been engaged for over a year and don't even have a month picked, let alone a date. Or a venue. Or anything, really. But what's weird is that we're both shockingly ok with this.

Neither of us have fantasized about our wedding day, so we don't even really know what we want. We just know that we don't want it to be stressful, which is why I think we're ok taking our sweet time planning. There is nothing rushing us, so we may as well make it enjoyable. It's much more than that one day, right?!

However, I think our friends and families may be getting a little anxious. ;)

One thing I struggle with is making any sort of decision without having a big picture. I mean, someone could ask, "What kind of dress do you want?" and my reaction is, "I don't even know where I'll be wearing it...how could I possibly pick out a dress yet?!" Or they might even ask something as broad as, "Do you have a budget in mind?" and I get sweaty while thinking, "I have no idea how much things cost!" It's overwhelming from the get-go. I'm in desperate need of some bearings.

And then something incredible happened...I was inspired.

I saw a picture online of a barn wedding. I immediately loved it. I'm not talking flannel shirts and cowboy hats, I'm talking rustic and vintage. Natural and earthy. I'm afraid when I try to explain it people are smelling manure and soggy hay, or picturing a big BBQ pit and Katie in overalls.

Check out this wedding and this wedding to get an idea of what I'm talking about. I think it makes total sense for us. We get the outdoorsy-ness but with shelter, so we don't have to worry about weather. Kate and I both like the idea of a fall wedding, which I think suits this type of venue so well. And anywhere that makes sneakers more appropriate gets a plus in Kate's book. :)

So I am going to try to run on this fuel of inspiration and see if we can make something of it. I'm excited about the ideas I'm getting and thought it'd be fun to share some of them with you. Plus, you all might have some good ideas for me! Please keep your eyes peeled for my new weekly Wedding Wednesday posts!!

Today I thought I'd show you what I'm thinking of as a part of the decorations. I've been collecting glass jars for months now, without really knowing how we would use them. I just knew that I liked them...and that they were free. :) Laura told me that she saw something in a magazine where they wrapped glass jars in yarn. I LOVED this idea! I think yarn totally fits with the fall/barn feel.

I was at the dollar store this weekend and actually found some yarn in lovely colors! I was just going to get one to try, but thought, "Hey, at a $1 apiece, I may as well get a few!" I got grey, 2 shades of teal, and 2 shades of dusty rose (don't mention the color mauve around Katie...). Here are the 3 ways I've tried so far.

Loose & criss-crossed (perhaps for a candle holder?)

Tight & straight (perhaps for a vase?)

Tight & criss-crossed with a bow/pompom (perhaps to hold favors?)

I'm also thinking some twine or hay-like raffia would look neat!

What do think? Does one way look best? Do they look cute or cheap?

Filed under: Wedding Leave a comment
Comments (26) Trackbacks (1)
  1. emily
    February 16th, 2011 - 19:06

    Lizz, I love the barn idea! I went to one a few years back at Bellevue Berry Farm. It was the flannel, cowboy hat kind but I could totally picture it fancier yet rustic and vintagey. Good luck with the planning!

    ( REPLY )
  2. Shelley
    February 16th, 2011 - 19:22

    I love the barn idea. I think it’s a nice casual option that’s different than the usual reception hall. Fall is a great time to get married. We got married in October and it was perfect because the weather was still nice but not hot. Plus I love all of the fall colors.

    ( REPLY )
    • Lizz
      February 16th, 2011 - 21:02

      Yes, fall colors are the best! And I agree about the weather. I can deal with wearing a jacket if it’s cold, but i don’t want to be dripping with sweat!

      ( REPLY )
  3. Amy
    February 16th, 2011 - 19:58

    If you like that big red barn out towards Bennington (144th Ida street ish). I can get you the contact info for it, I dont think they have a website. (this is also the barn that use to (or still may) have the silo painted like a pumpkin. I hear it is amazing inside!

    ( REPLY )
    • Lizz
      February 16th, 2011 - 20:58

      Amy, that’d be awesome if you have a contact! I’ve been searching online and haven’t finding much. But one wedding posted their pics and it looked great!

      ( REPLY )
  4. Annie Hall
    February 16th, 2011 - 21:13

    I think your/Katie’s approach to planning a wedding is totally sane, and I totally agree it can get overwhelming making the myriad of decisions a wedding requires.

    I think the jars look great, but I agree that if you layered the loosely wrapped ones with raffia wrapped in a similar style it would feel more lush.
    Annie Hall recently posted..Happy Valentines Day

    ( REPLY )
  5. Lauren Orsi
    February 16th, 2011 - 21:19

    Love, love, love the idea of weddings that suit personalities rather than traditional spectacles! And the most unique ideas, (that usually cost the least), are the ones that make the biggest impressions. It’s great that you are inspired by those weddings that you referenced, it will make the planning so much more fun. Looking forward to the wedding posts!

    ( REPLY )
    • Lizz
      February 17th, 2011 - 20:18

      Yes, thank you! For awhile there I was overwhelmed by what people ‘expect’ at weddings. But then I realized I’m not interested in lots of that stuff. Katie tells me, “Just think of it as throwing a party for our friends. We don’t have to do anything we don’t want to.” So true!

      ( REPLY )
  6. mine
    February 16th, 2011 - 22:58

    see just a “barn” sounds a bit too much like your entrance will be on horses going “yee-haw”. what i’m seeing from these pics is that it’s more “anthropologie barn”, and that does look cute.

    i think the jars look cute, as long as the colors are coherent (with everything else around) i don’t think they’ll look cheap at all. plus, since the wedding will be in the fall, warm feeling accessories will be appropriate i think.

    and i love the idea of these wednesday wedding posts as a friend who lives too far to have regular wedding related conversations with you.

    ( REPLY )
  7. Bridgett Svoboda
    February 16th, 2011 - 22:58

    Love it Lizz! The barn idea is beautiful and I absolutely love fall weddings! Happy planning!

    ( REPLY )
  8. Kelly
    February 17th, 2011 - 07:06

    I love your idea, I think it sounds great! And the jars look cute.
    Kelly recently posted..feeding babies

    ( REPLY )
    • Lizz
      February 17th, 2011 - 20:21

      Thanks! I’m thinking a lot of my inspiration will be from anthropologie…but hopefully without the price tag.

      And don’t worry, the puppy post is coming tonight! ;)

      ( REPLY )
  9. Anna
    February 17th, 2011 - 14:49

    I agree, the Big Red Barn in Bennington would be perfect for what you are talking about. Everything is painted white inside and they have it decorated with some twinkle lights that makes it look really vintage. That’s actually where I wanted to have ours but it wasn’t quite big enough. You can also rent a few of the apple orchards/barns in Nebraska City which are also perfect. Or Soaring Wings winery in Springfield. Or…haha I have so many ideas that we couldn’t use I’m overflowing! I’d love to help any way I can! When we were looking I came across a few websites with photos from some of those locations, I’ll try to find them and email them to you!

    ( REPLY )
  10. Mom
    February 17th, 2011 - 17:57

    I love the barn! Looks so much like “you”! I love pulling in your colors with the yarn, but also think adding raffia would be great as well. Let me know if you want me to visit the barn with you so we can find out how much it costs, etc. Need to start reservations soon (no pressure, but October is only 8 months away!)

    ( REPLY )
    • Lizz
      February 17th, 2011 - 20:15

      Katie is supposed to call them tomorrow to see when we can go see it. She is off most of next week, so if they don’t show it in the evenings or weekends I’ll probably be able to take a half day.

      I was counting months last night and I can’t believe how close the fall is! I think once I have a location and date set, it will be much easier to make progress.

      ( REPLY )
  11. Alison
    February 17th, 2011 - 22:13

    I love the pom-pom jar! I can picture votive candles in it on the tables…

    ( REPLY )
  12. Amy
    February 18th, 2011 - 14:50

    Not a day or 3 late but here is the name and number of the guy that would know about the barn (katie jensen- marian grad is the one who gave it to me)

    Cliff Feyerherm

    402.496.9576 or 402.213.0147

    hope that helps!

    ( REPLY )
  13. Joy
    February 20th, 2011 - 07:15

    I think they’re adorable!
    Friends of mine rent out their barn and I have seen gorgeous weddings there!!

    ( REPLY )

Leave a comment

(required)

CommentLuv badge

fabric flowers | Leading The Good Life
» «
Follow LdgTheGoodLife on Twitter

Welcome!

1

Hi! My name is Lizz and I am from Omaha, Nebraska. I love cooking, running, traveling, and learning new things. I have an amazing fiance, 2 adorable dogs, and an incredibly close-knit family. I am striving to make conscious choices in my life that reflect who I am and help me live life to the fullest.

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Contact Me

Have a question? Feel free to email me at lizz.dyer@gmail.com

Recent Posts

Foodbuzz

Categories